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Matt. 15:29-31

29 And [kai] Jesus [Iesous] departed [metabaino] from thence [ekeithen] , and came [erchomai] nigh unto [para] the sea [thalassa] of Galilee [Galilaia] ; and [kai] went up [anabaino] into [eis] a mountain [oros] , and sat down [kathemai] there [ekei] .
30 And [kai] great [polus] multitudes [ochlos] came [proserchomai] unto him [autos] , having [echo] with [meta] them those that were [heautou] lame [cholos] , blind [tuphlos] , dumb [kophos] , maimed [kullos] , and [kai] many [polus] others [heteros] , and [kai] cast [rhipto] them [autos] down [rhipto] at [para] Jesus [Iesous] ' feet [pous] ; and [kai] he healed [therapeuo] them [autos] :
31 Insomuch that [hoste] the multitude [ochlos] wondered [thaumazo] , when they saw [blepo] the dumb [kophos] to speak [laleo] , the maimed [kullos] to be whole [hugies] , the lame [cholos] to walk [peripateo] , and [kai] the blind [tuphlos] to see [blepo] : and [kai] they glorified [doxazo] the God [theos] of Israel [Israel] . KJV-Interlinear

Matt. 15:29-31

29 And departing from there, Jesus went along by the Sea of Galilee, and having gone up to the mountain, He was sitting there. 30 And great multitudes came to Him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, dumb, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them, 31 so that the multitude marveled as they saw the dumb speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. NAS

A new type of deformity is added to the list of injuries. The word for cripple means one of a type that is by far the worst of mutilations such as the loss of a foot or hand, arm or leg. Here Christ not only healed the various illnesses and defects, but he restored the lost limbs. He probably did this in former miracles of His healing, but we know that what He did for the people was nothing short of that which is beyond human ability regardless of historical setting, regardless of technology.

Here Christ has traveled form the region of Sidon to the region along the southeast shore of the Sea of Galilee called Decapolis (ten cities), Lk. 7:31. Today this is immediately south of the current Golan Heights. This is another gentile region.

Jesus had many interactions with gentiles, but Peter did not realize that the gentiles would be included in the Kingdom of God until he had his vision of unclean animals, Acts 10. And that is long time after the Cross. Sometimes it takes quite a while for doctrine to really sink in!

Jesus went to an area in the higher elevations and away from the urban areas. It would take quite a while for people to hear of his presence and then to get to where he was. That number would quickly swell to many thousands (4000 men plus women and children).

Lam 3:22-25, 'The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness. 24 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I have hope in Him.' 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,

This crowd was different from the Jews in that, the Jews came to Christ when the grass was green and they were commanded to sit down on the grass. This crowd would be commanded to sit down on the ground - no grass. So with the grasses gone of browned out, the time would have been later in the year and a hotter time, therefore less convenient for such a large crowd.

They would remain with Jesus for three days, without food. Their reception and reaction to Christ was one of 'marvel' or awe, but this is not the same wonder that the Jews had. The gentiles were intensely awe struck at the power and the miracles that defied human ability.

This was a region that is known for its worship of various idols and Greek gods. None of which could performed the miracles that Jesus was performing. The crowd worshiped and praised the God of Israel.

So in this gentile and pagan area there was knowledge of the former nation of Israel, though it did not exist at the time. They had knowledge of Jesus and the reputation that had apparently preceded him. He was recognized when He entered the region and the word spread fast such that a great crowd went out to where He was in the countryside.

One can only imagine the scene. A large crowd, perhaps numbering 20,000 give or take, and the sounds of those who were hurting. The pleas for mercy. The cheers of happiness as one by one, a seemingly endless parade of those in need were cured and restored, in a constant and uninterrupted stream of healing power came from Christ.

The crowd was in constant awe, an awe that was greater than that demonstrated by the Jewish crowds. They were totally overwhelmed by the scene before them.

One might ask the question, 'At what point in your life will you become overwhelmed by the Word of God?'

Now is the time to post a prayer.

End Of Lesson

Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.